Ryan Neill
Sixth Season

Former Golden Eagle All-American Ryan Neill begins his sixth season on the ORU coaching staff, and his third in a full-time role.

Neill has been a part of all 11 Summit League titles  at ORU as a player and a coach, which ranks third all-time in NCAA history for most consecutive conference crowns.

Since becoming the second assistant in the summer of 2006, Neill is more actively involved in off-campus recruiting. He will continue to serve as ORU’s bench coach in addition to coaching Golden Eagles infielders. Neill also serves on the staff of the Rob Walton Baseball Camps.

“Ryan’s promotion is well-deserved,” said head coach Rob Walton. “He’s committed to the job and knows what it takes to help us reach our goals. He’s going to do a fantastic job. He’s obviously familiar with our program and the university, and the fact that he excelled at a high level as a collegiate player gives him great credibility when instructing our athletes.”

Over the past two seasons of overseeing ORU’s infielders, five players have earned First-Team All-Summit League honors, and three have been taken in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Last season, Golden Eagle infielders Juan Martinez and Michael Notaro earned first-team all-league honors in their first year of action at ORU. Notaro batted .336 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI, while Martinez hit .329 with nine homers and 55 RBI. Martinez was named to the Summit League All-Tournament Team after going 6-for-11 (.545) in three games with five RBI and a home run.

ORU’s career home run (48) and RBI (199) leader, Neill lettered four seasons at ORU (1997-2000) as a first baseman/outfielder, twice earning First-Team All Mid-Continent Conference honors (1999, 2000) and also capturing Mid-Con Tournament MVP honors in 1999.

Neill, an Okmulgee native, was a key member of three NCAA Tournament and Mid-Con championship squads (1998-2000). His best season came during the 1999 campaign when he batted .423 with 18 home runs and 71 RBI, earning Third-Team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball. The Golden Eagles were a combined 166-80 (.675) during Neill’s four seasons.

Drafted in the 24th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2000 Neill spent three seasons in Detroit’s minor league system before retiring after the 2002 season.

Neill married the former Audrey Ramirez on December 18, 2004 in San Antonio. The couple resides in Tulsa and have a daughter, Dahlia (2).